TABAKAT XIX.

THE SHANSABÁNIYA SULTÁNS OF GHAZNÍ.

[Printed Text, p. 111.]

This book contains an abridged account of the Shansabání
Sultáns, whose glory added lustre to the throne of Ghazní, and
elevated the kingdoms of Hind and Khurásán. The first of
them was Sultán Saifu-d dín Súrí. After him came Sultán
'Aláu-d dín Husain, who took Ghazní, but did not reign there.
The throne was next taken by Sultán Mu'izzu-d dín Muhammad
Sám. When he was killed the crown was confided to his slave,
Sultán Táju-d dín Yalduz, and so the line ended.

1.—Sultán Saifu-d dín Súrí.

Saifu-d dín was a great king, of handsome appearance and
noble carriage, and distinguished for courage, energy, humanity,
justice, and liberality. He was the first individual of this family
who received the title of Sultán. When the news reached him
of the destruction which had fallen upon his elder brother the
king of the Jabbál (Kutbu-d dín), he resolved upon taking
vengeance upon Bahrám Sháh. He gathered a great force in
the states of Ghor and marched to Ghazní, where he routed
Bahrám and took the city. Bahrám fled to Hindustán, and
Saifu-d dín ascended the throne of Ghazní, when he placed the
territories of Ghor under his brother, Sultán Baháu-d dín Súrí,
father of Ghiyásu-d dín and Mu'izzu-d dín. After he had
secured Ghazní the chiefs of the army and the nobles of the city
and environs submitted to him, and he conferred many favours
upon them, so that the army and the subjects of Bahrám Sháh
were overwhelmed by his bounteous care. When winter came
on he sent his own forces back to Ghor, and kept with him only
the troops and officers of Bahrám Sháh in whom he placed full
confidence. His wazír, Saiyid Majdu-d dín Musawí, and a few of
his old servants remained with him, all the rest of his officers
both at Court and in the country had been in the service of the
old government.

In the depth of the winter, when the roads to Ghor were closed
by heavy falls of snow, the people of Ghazní saw that no army
or assistance could come to Saifu-d dín from that quarter, so they
wrote to Bahrám Sháh explaining how matters stood, and press­ing
upon him the necessity of seizing this favourable opportunity
for the recovery of his dominions. The deposed king acted upon
these advices, and marched suddenly to Ghazní and attacked his
foe. Súrí, with his wazír and his old servants, abandoned the
city and took the road to Ghor, but the horsemen of Bahrám
Sháh pursued them and overtook them in the neighbourhood of
Sang-i Surákh.*
They fought desperately until they were unhorsed,
and then retreated into the hills, where they kept up such a
shower of arrows that the foe could not approach them. When
the last arrow had been shot the horsemen captured them, bound
them hand and foot, and conducted them to Ghazní. At the gate
of the city Sultán Súrí was placed upon a camel, and his wazír,
Majdu-d dín, upon another. They were then led ignominiously
round the city, and from the tops of the houses, ashes, dirt, and
filth were thrown upon their venerable heads. When they
reached the one-arched bridge of Ghazní, the Sultán and his
wazír were both gibbeted over the bridge. Such was the dis­graceful
cruelty practised upon this handsome, excellent, just,
and brave king. The Almighty, however, prospered the arms
of Sultán 'Aláu-d dín Jahán-soz, brother of Sultán Súrí, who
exacted full retribution for this horrible deed, as we have already
related in another place.

Historians relate that Sultán 'Alau-d-dín was succeeded by his
son Sultán Saifu-d dín. This king released the two princes Ghiyá-su-d
dín and Mu'izzu-d dín (his cousins) who were confined in a
fort of Wahíristán, as has been already narrated in the history of
Sultán Ghiyásu-d dín. Prince Ghiyásu-d dín dwelt peacefully
at Fíroz-koh in the service of Sultán Saifu-d dín, and Prince
Mu'izzu-d din went to Bámíán into the service of his uncle
Fakhru-d dín Mas'úd.

When Ghiyásu-d dín succeeded to the throne of Ghor after
the tragical death of Saifu-d dín, and the intelligence thereof
came to Bámíán, Fakhru-d dín addressed his nephew Mu'izzu-d
dín saying, “Your brother is acting, what do you mean to do?
You must bestir yourself.” Mu'izzu-d dín bowed respectfully to
his uncle, left the Court, and started just as he was for Fíroz-koh.
When he arrived there he waited upon his brother and
paid his respects, as has been already related. One year he
served his brother, but having taken some offence he went to
Sijistán to Malik Shamsu-d dín Sijistání and staid there one
winter. His brother sent messengers to bring him back, and
when he arrived he assigned to him the countries of Kasr-kajúrán
and Istiya.*
When he had established his authority over the
whole of Garmsír he made over to his brother the city of Takíná-bád,
which was the largest town in Garmsír. This Takínábád is
the place which was the cause of the quarrel with the house of
Mahmúd Subuktigín, and it passed into the hands of the kings
of Ghor. Sultán-i Ghází 'Aláu-d dín sent the following quatrain
to Khusrú Sháh bin Bahrám Sháh:

“Thy father first laid the foundation of this place
“Before the people of the world had all fallen under injustice.
“Beware lest for one Takínábád thou shouldest bring
“The empire of the house of Mahmúd to utter ruin.”

When Sultán Mu'izzu-d dín became master of Takínábád the
armies and leaders of the Ghuzz had fled before the forces of Khitá
towards Ghazní, where they remained for twelve years, having
wrested the country from the hands of Khusrú Shah and Khusrú
Malik. Sultán Mu'izzu-d dín kept continually assailing them
from Takínábád, and troubling the country. At length in the
year 569 H. (1173 A.D.) Sultán Ghiyásu-dín conquered Ghazní,
and returned to Ghor, after placing his brother Mu'izzu-d dín
upon the throne, as has been before related. This prince secured
the territories of Ghazní, and two years afterwards in 570 H.
(1174 A.D.) he conquered Gurdez.

In the third year he led his forces to Multán and delivered
that place from the hands of the Karmatians. In the same year
571 H. (1175 A.D.) the people of Sankarán*
revolted and made
great confusion, so he marched against them and put most of
them to the sword. It has been written by some that these
Sankaráníáns have been called martyrs, in agreement with the
declaration of the Kurán, but as they stirred up strife and re­volted
they were made examples of, and were put to death from
political necessity.

In the year after this victory he conducted his army by way
of Uch and Multán towards Nahrwála. The Ráí of Nahrwála,
Bhím-deo,*
was a minor, but he had a large army and many
elephants. In the day of battle the Muhammadans were de­feated
and the Sultán was compelled to retreat. This happened
in the year 574 H. (1178 A.D.).

In 575 H. (1179 A.D.) he attacked and conquered Farsháwar
(Pesháwar), and two years afterwards he advanced to Lohor
(Lahore). The power of the Ghaznivides was now drawing to
its close and their glory was departed, so Khusrú Malik sent his
son as a hostage, and an elephant as a present to the Sultán.
This was in the year 577 H. (1181 A.D.) Next year the Sultán
marched to Dewal, subdued all that country to the sea shore,
and returned with great spoil. In 580 H. (1184 A.D.) he went
to Lahore, ravaged all the territories of that kingdom, and re­turned
after building the fort of Síálkot, in which he placed
Husain Kharmíl as governor. When the Sultán was gone,
Khusrú Malik assembled the forces of Hindustán, and having
also obtained a body of Kokhars (Gakkars) he laid siege to
Síálkot, but, after some interval, was obliged to withdraw. The
Sultán returned to Lahore in 581 H. (1185 A.D.).